Respect VP Mujuru, says Mohadi

EMBATTLED Vice-President Joice Mujuru should be respected as President Robert Mugabe's second-in-command in both party and government, Home Affairs minister Kembo Mohadi said yesterday.

Speaking at the reburial of the 81 freedom fighters at Matumba Six in Old Mutare, Mohadi said people should respect Mujuru as a national leader.

"We should do things with the respect that she (Mujuru) is not only the vice-president of the party, but also that of the Republic of Zimbabwe," he said.

He said he did not belong to "small gatherings" (factions) and thus he was obliged to respect his leaders particularly Mujuru and Mugabe who appointed him as a minister.

Mujuru has been under attack from a faction led by Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa along with Grace Mugabe at the First Lady's rallies labelling the VP as corrupt, incompetent and plotting to topple Mugabe.

Grace said Mujuru should resign or risk being "baby-dumped" at next month's elective congress.

Mohadi's remarks came a day after the Zanu PF politburo expelled and suspended Mujuru's allies in a major blow for her to retain the post as Mugabe's deputy at the watershed congress in three weeks' time.

Zanu PF expelled war veterans' leader Jabulani Sibanda, suspended party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo and upheld the suspensions of four provincial chairpersons—Amos Midzi (Harare), Callisto Gwanetsa (Masvingo), Jason Machaya (Midlands) and Andrew Langa (Matabeleland South). Manicaland provincial chairman John Mvundura, another Mujuru ally, was given a written reprimand.

Mohadi apologised to Mujuru for stopping the reburial two weeks ago, saying he wanted to clear the way first.